Day: 26 July 2007

Flood chaos ‘worst for 60 years’

The severe flooding affecting south and central England comes after three months of record-breaking rainfall.

Low health risk from contaminated flood water

Residents in flood-affected areas have been advised to take sensible precautions as the flooding subsides but have been reassured that there is only a small chance of picking up an infection from contaminated water.

Counting the cost of England’s floods

Tax concessions and insurance payouts will go some way towards easing the heartbreak of those whose homes and businesses have been flooded in the worst weather for more than half a century, but how much will the crisis cost UK plc?

Widespread flooding a wake-up call for planners

Balancing Britain's demand for more housing against the need to preserve flood plains to act as a natural defence has always been a prickly point for planners but recent flooding across the country could drive the point home.

Floods – the waste impacts

Waste management may not be at the forefront of anyone's mind when the flood waters come calling, but the logistics of having to collect the rubbish from streets that resemble rivers and dispose of the millions of plastic water bottles left in the aftermath are far from plain sailing.

Public shuns packaging waste

Almost everyone believes there should be less packaging on products, but less than half claim excess packaging would stop them buying something they wanted.

Ozone could increase global warming

Further research into the damage ozone close to the earth's surface can have on plants has led British scientists to conclude that emissions of the gas could be speeding up global warming.

UK and France push for VAT cut on green goods

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have made a joint call for reduced value-added tax rates for products which are less environmentally damaging than their alternatives.

Irish Minister outlines priorities

Now a month into the job, John Gormley, Ireland's Environment Minister and head of the country's Green Party, has outlined his priorities - and said he believes global warming threatens our very existence.

$4m fine and $66m works programme for chemical company

DuPont has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $4.125 and spend at least $66 million on air pollution control at four factories producing sulphuric acid for industry.

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